Doctors at MedStar Washington Hospital, where Rep. Scalise is being treated, discussed his condition on Friday saying that they believed he would be in the hospital for a considerable amount of time, possibly weeks.

But Scalise can hope to make an "excellent recovery," his trauma surgeon said Friday.

In his first public comments since the shooting, Dr. Jack Sava of MedStar Washington Hospital Center said it's a "good possibility" that the Louisiana Republican will be able to return to work in his full capacity.

Sava declined to put a timeline on when that would happen, or when Scalise, 51, would be able to leave the hospital. The doctor described how a bullet from an assault rifle entered Scalise's hip and traversed his pelvis, shattering blood vessels, bones and internal organs along the way.

Rep. Scalise was shot during baseball practice with the GOP team early Wednesday morning after a man approached the field and opened fire.

The doctors said that while Scalise remains in critical condition, they "are encouraged by improvement in his condition."

They said that his "risk of death" has substantially lowered than when he arrived at the hospital. According to the medical staff, Scalise arrived in critical condition with a "imminent risk of death."

Since then he has had more than one surgery and doctors expect he will continue to have more in the near future.

Sava said Friday that there are hundreds of bullet fragments in Scalise's body. Nonetheless, said Sava, "We fully expect him to be able to walk" and "hopefully run."

Sava said that after being released from the hospital, Scalise "will require a period of healing and rehabilitation."

According to the doctors, the main concern for Scalise at this point is making sure he does not have an infection.

Fragments from the gunshot wound could pose an issue but doctors said that attempting to remove them would cause greater stress to his recovery.

“There is more risk involved in removing them.”

Scalise is said to be somewhat responding to medical staff and family, according to the doctors. Medical staff said that he is sedated but does seem to know that his family is with him.

Jennifer Scalise, Scalise’s wife, sent a statement:

“On behalf of Steve and our children, I want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for the incredible amount of prayers and warm wishes we have received since Wednesday's events.

We are especially appreciative of the strong outpouring of love and support from our neighbors, friends, from Louisiana and across the country, as well as from President Trump, Vice President Pence, and all of Steve's colleagues who have reached out to us during this most challenging time.

Most importantly, we are forever grateful for the heroism of Special Agents Crystal Griner and David Bailey, who saved the lives of everyone at the baseball field that morning, including Steve's. Crystal and David have been family to us for years, and we ask that you continue to pray for their full recovery.

I would also like to personally thank all of the first responders who bravely assisted at the scene, as well as the entire staff of MedStar Washington Hospital Center for their continued excellent care.

Our family asks that you continue to pray for Steve, Matt Mika, Zach Barth, and all of those hurt in this attack, and keep them in your thoughts as they face recovery."